The discussion explores why gladiators continue to fascinate modern audiences, linking their appeal to timeless themes of violence, identity, and resistance. Spartacus emerges not just as a warrior but as a symbol of defiance against oppression—his Thracian roots and mercenary past adding complexity to his legacy. The origins of gladiatorial combat are traced to Rome’s expansion and its reliance on slavery, particularly from the Eastern Mediterranean. Major trading hubs like Delos became centers of human trafficking, where pirates supplied Rome’s demand for enslaved labor, setting the stage for uprisings fueled by systemic injustice.